20080827845029A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Airtrc AT-802A · Meeker, CO · August 27, 2008

Date: August 27, 2008 · 12:15 local
Place: Meeker, CO
Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N189LA
NTSB investigation: NTSBDFW08TA224
Reported as: Airtrc AT802A
Reported engine: PWC PT667AG
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 3,200 total600 in this make and model85 in the last 90 days

N189LARegistration cancelled Oct 16, 2008 · Air Tractor AT-802AS/N 802A-0189 Airframe modelAir Tractor AT-802A

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Aircraft was participating in firefighting effort. The aircraft appeared to be making a second pass when a hatch on the left side of the aircraft came open. The aircraft then made a steep bank, dumped the retardant load and impacted the ground.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) AIRCRAFT WAS PARTICIPATING IN FIREFIGHTING EFFORT. THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO BE MAKING A SECOND PASS WHEN A HATCH ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT CAME OPEN. THE AIRCRAFT THEN MADE A STEEP BANK, DUMPED THE RETARDANT LOAD AND IMPACTED THE GROUND.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB DFW08TA224Accident · Minor injuriesFinal reportMeeker, COThe pilot's improper decision to continue an aerial application following an uncommanded opening of the cabin door in flight, and his subsequent failure to maintain control of the airplane.Aug 27, 2008 · Substantial damage